Combined potato-digger and cotton-chopper.



mv ss I 6 I 40' v I No. 850,019.. PATENTED APR. 9, 1907.

R. KRAUSB.

7 COMBINED POTATO DIGG ER AND COTTON SHOPPER.

' APPLICATION FILED MAYZQ, 190s.

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No 850,019. x PATENTED APRfQ, 1907.

- R. KRAUSR COMBINED POTATO DIGGER AND COTTON CHOPPER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29, 1906.

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UNITED STATES EATENT OFF-ICE.

ROMANUS -KRAUSE, OF SWANQUARTER, NORTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR OF ON E-HALF TO EUGENE B. BELL, OF SWANQUARTER, NORTH CAROLINA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 9, I907.

Application filed May 29, 1906. Serial No. 319,394.

hereof, Figure 1 is aplan view of my inven-- tion. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 3 1s a detail perspective view of the potatodigger, and Fig. 4 is a similar view of thecotton-chopper. Fig. 5 is adetail of the mechanism for raising and loweringthe subsidiary frame.

In the present embodiment of my invention a frame A is provided, comprising longitudinal beams a a, connected by upwardly-v arched cross-bars at a. A tongue 0, is secured to the center of the two forward arched bars, and stud-shafts a a are journaled upon the longitudinal beams, the said stud-shafts having the wheels a journaled upon their outer ends. One of said wheels a is provided on its inner face with a gear-wheel a? for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

A subsidiary frame B, comprising the longitudinal bars I), connected by cross-bars b, is hinged at one side upon one of the longitudinal bars, as at 6 and rests at the other side upon the other longitudinal bar, a catch 5 being provided for retaining the frame in po sition upon the bars.

A link I) is pivoted to the disconnected longitudinal bar of the subsidiary frame and has connected to the end thereof one end of a lever 11", pivoted by its center upon a bracket b and having at the other end a spring-catch b engaging a quadrant 6 whereby to maintain the subsidiary frame in its adjusted position. It will be understood that by bearing down upon the disconnected end of the lever 12 the subsidiary frame is swung upon .its hinge connection with the longitudinal beam, whereby to raise and lower it with re spect to the main frame.

A shaft 0 is journaled longitudinally of the subsidiary frame B and approximately centrally thereof in bearings 1) upon the crossbars. A frame comprism cross-bars 0 0 provided with openings 'or receiving the spaced apart from each other and perpendicularly with respect to the said side members and also perpendicularly to the shaft. Each of said blades 0 0" comprises a shank a engaging an opening in the side member of the frame, and a curved pointed blade .portion 0 having rounded edges.

Upon the end of the shaft 0 outside of the frame is a sprocket-Wheel a", connected by a chain 0 with a sprocket-wheel 0 upon a counter-shaft 0 journaled in a bracket 0 upon the longitudinal beam adjacent to the wheel a provided with a bevel-gear, and the inner end of said counter-shaft'is provided with a bevel-gear 0 having a keyway engaged by "a key c on the counter-shaft 0 The said bevel-gear 0 is provided witha sleeve having an annular groove engaged by the fork 0 of the lever c", pivoted by its center to the bracket 0, connected with the longitudinal beam, the free end of the lever being adapted to engage a quadrant 0 whereby to maintain the bevel-gear in its adjusted position. It will be evident that when the bevel-gear 0 is moved into mesh with the bevel-gear (1/ that the counter-shaft 0 will be rotated, thus rotating the shaft C in a direction opposite to the direction of the spiral formed by the side members and-the blades.

A plurality of disks D are arranged in front and at each side of the shaft 0, the said disks being arranged at an angle with respect to said shafts. The disks D are journaled in the lower end of posts (1, pivoted to clamps (1 upon the central cross-bar, the said clamps being adjustably mounted upon said bar and retained in their adjusted position by means of set-screws d A yoke d is provided for lifting the disks out. of operative position, the body of the yoke resting upon the tongue, and the arms thereof being pivoted to the posts near the lower end thereof. Upon the tongue is arranged a catch d for engaging above the body of the yoke when the disks are in their lowered position, whereby to secure them in such position.

The disks are raised by grasping the body of the yoke and drawing the same upward, the yoke being merely a convenience for lifting the disks and for retaining them in position when lowered.

In operation the improved digger is driven along the row, with the wheels upon each side of a hill. The bevel-gear being thrown into mesh with the bevel-gear on the wheel, the shaft C is rotated in a direction opposite to that of the spiral arrangement of the blades, and they are forced into the ground beneath the potatoes, and since they are set close enough together to prevent the passage of the potatoes therebetween the potatoes are removedfrorn the hill and thrown to each side thereof. The spiral arrangement of the blades acts in the manner of a screw working the tops toward the back of the machine and passing them away from the digger. In moving from one row to another the subsidiary frame is elevated, thus elevating the digger above the ground. The disks at the front of the digger are arranged at approximately the edges of the cut made thereby, whereby to separate the portion to be cut from the adjacent soil. 1

In Fig. 4 I have shown a hoe E comprising a shank e and a horizontal blade e, which when my improved machine is used as a cot ton-chopper takes the place of the blades. The shank of one hoe is attached to each side member of the frame 0, the hoes projecting in opposite directions in such manner that when the shaft is rotated the horizontal portion of the hoe passes into the ground, cutting out the cotton-plants at predetermined intervals.

A seat may be provided for the convenience of the operator, as shown in Fig. 1.

It will be observed that the digging mechanism comprises a frame having the main bars turned spirally to form approximately a screw, which would, if moved in the direction of its axis through a resisting medium, be caused to turn in one direction or the other, according to the spiral twist of the framebars. However, I provide means for turning the frame in a reverse direction to that in which it would be'turned in the operation just described.

What I claim is 1. In a machine of the character described, the combination with the main frame, and means for supporting the same, of a shaft journaled longitudinally of the main frame and at the center thereof, a subsidiary frame hinged to the main frame, means for raising and lowering the subsidiary frame, a shaft journaled centrally of the subsidiary frame and arranged longitudinally with respect to the main frame, a frame rigid with the shaft and comprising end members having openings for receiving the shaft, and side members spirally arranged with respect to the shaft, curved blades arranged in spaced relation on the side members and perpendicularly to the shaft, and means for positively turning the shaft in a direction opposite to the direction it would be turned by the action of a resisting medium when drawn through said medium in the direction of its axis.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination with the frame and means for supporting the same, of a shaft journaled longitudinally of the frame at the center thereof, a frame rigid with the shaft and comprising end members having openings for receiving the shaft, and side members spirally arranged with respect to the shaft, curved blades arranged in spaced relation on the side members and perpendicularly to the shaft, and means for positively turning the shaft in a direction opposite to the direction it would be turned by the action of a resisting medium when drawn through said medium in the direction of its axis.

3. In a machine of the character described, a shaft having a plurality of series of blades arranged spirally thereon and perpendicularly thereto, means for positively turning the shaft in a direction opposite to the direction it would be turned by the action of a resisting medium when drawn through said medium in the direction of its axis, and means for supporting the shaft.

' ROMANUS KRAUSE.

Witnesses:

PERREN SELBY, L. L. Run. 

